(Ecofin Agency) - On October 16, the Algerian minister of communication has released on the official national journal, a decree to launch a call to offer for licenses to create private TV channels. The minister wishes to award 7 of those. 

Amongst authorized channels, there is a news (politics, economic, social) channel, a culture channel, a youth channel, a food channel, a series and entertainment channel and a sport channel.

Since last September 28, when the initial call to offer was launched, interested entities were enabled to bid to the operation. However, “this delay might be exceptionally prolonged by thirty days once, on the decision of the audiovisual regulatory body”, the decree states.

Amongst the authorized channels, five will be broadcasted via the Eutelsat 7WA satellite covering Middle East and Northern Africa, while two will be broadcasted via the Eutelsat 5WA satellite covering the Greater Maghreb and with a particular focus on Algeria.

The decree also states that all programmes of the new private TV channels must be broadcasted clearly, in Arabic and Tamazight, even if “foreign languages can be used for programmes targeting a foreign audience”.

Servan Ahougnon